The first was a new Dodge custom van conversion with no toilet back in the later 1970s. It had a 3 burner stove and a fridge. Water was in a 5g portable tank. We (divorced about 10 years later and he still has this van) took a 30 day cross country trip in that van from NYC to CO and north into Canada. We stopped at every place of note on that trip. Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Mesa Verde etc. It was cramped but worked out fine as there was plenty of storage space around the extended roof and under the 3/4 bed. We showered at truck stops and had a sort of early porta-john. We mostly boondocked.
WandaLust2 wrote: The first was a new Dodge custom van conversion with no toilet back in the later 1970s. It had a 3 burner stove and a fridge. Water was in a 5g portable tank. We (divorced about 10 years later and he still has this van) took a 30 day cross country trip in that van from NYC to CO and north into Canada. We stopped at every place of note on that trip. Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Mesa Verde etc. It was cramped but worked out fine as there was plenty of storage space around the extended roof and under the 3/4 bed. We showered at truck stops and had a sort of early porta-john. We mostly boondocked.
It was a wonderful trip I will never forget.
Sounds just like ours
Posted: 12/14/11 06:28pm
In 1967 our first RV was a 1965 Dodge Camp Wagon (a Dodge van) powered by a 273 V/8. A beautiful two tone white and aqua blue with white wall tires
Behind the driver and passenger seats it featured a sink, stove, a/c d/c refrigerator, a dinette and also an RV style toilet in the back corner. It had an aluminum pop up top that made standing possible.
It was tight with the two of us and three kids but it slept all of us and made a great traveling vehicle, especially the long trip to Florida in the pre I-75 and I-77 days.
Jim ----- SampsonAFBVet
Joyce --- Retired Teacher Teddy our rescued Yorkie/Maltese 2006 Gulfstream Ultra LE, 2010 Honda Fit
In 1967 our first RV was a 1965 Dodge Camp Wagon (a Dodge van) powered by a 273 V/8. A beautiful two tone white and aqua blue with white wall tires
Behind the driver and passenger seats it featured a sink, stove, a/c d/c refrigerator, a dinette and also an RV style toilet in the back corner. It had an aluminum pop up top that made standing possible.
It was tight with the two of us and three kids but it slept all of us and made a great traveling vehicle, especially the long trip to Florida in the pre I-75 and I-77 days.
It sounds like yours was larger than ours. We had what I think was called the Tradesman. No dinette. The extended top allowed us to stand and had a screened vent like today's RVs have. It was a burnt orange/rusty color with a cream top. Since we could only go in June when school was still in, my son, about 10 at the time, missed the trip. There was nowhere for a child to sleep in the van anyway. Even floorspace was limited. Where did your 3 children sleep? A friend took care of the dog while we were gone.
Behind the driver and passenger seats it featured a sink, stove, a/c d/c refrigerator, a dinette and also an RV style toilet in the back corner. It had an aluminum pop up top that made standing possible.
It was tight with the two of us and three kids but it slept all of us and made a great traveling vehicle, especially the long trip to Florida in the pre I-75 and I-77 days.
The dinette made into a bed for us. The kids slept in "hammocks" that installed over the driver & passenger compartment, over the sink & stove counter, and then up by the raised roof area. Thankfully the kids were small (2, 4 & 6) at the time. They thought it was a great adventure.
A small pop up camper with nothing inside except for the two beds. Went to a small TT, then a pickup truck camper, to larger TTs, 5th wheel and now a Class A MH. Lost count how many units we owned but each change was an upgrade to what we had. As the family grew so did the size of the TT. Our MH is smaller then our last TT since it is just the two of us now.
A little red wagon with wood side boards. Packed up my bundle and some favorite toys, told Mama I was running away from home and , headed to the woods. Saw Dennis the Menace or something on the new Tee Vee, must have been 1954 or so.
Didn't have water or waste tanks so I had to use the crick and some bushes. It was too compact to sleep in so still had sleep on the ground.
It was cheap to operate and carried a lot stuff in the bay, for a young single RVer.
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